How far is Pasadena, CA from San Francisco, CA?

The driving distance from Pasadena, CA to San Francisco, CA is about 383.2 miles (616.7 km), with a travel time of about 05h 59m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 346.3 miles (557.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 59m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
383.17 mi
05h 59m
Flight
346.27 mi
557.27 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Pasadena.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
346.27 mi
Kilometers
557.27 km
Flight Time
00h 41m

Driving Distance

Road route
383.17 mi
Kilometers
616.65 km
Drive Time
05h 59m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 05h 59m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in San Francisco
Thu, Apr 23, 6:54 AM PDT
Return by in Pasadena
Thu, Apr 23, 12:54 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Pasadena
2026-04-23T00:54
Arrive San Francisco
Thu, Apr 23, 6:54 AM PDT
Route Timing
05h 59m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
12:00 PM to 2:00 PM PDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
5:00 AM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Pasadena
9:00 PM PDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Huron
CA

Small city in Fresno County, California

From Pasadena
191.4 mi
02h 59m
To San Francisco
191.7 mi
02h 59m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph SSW
Destination
70°F
Thursday

Patchy Fog then Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
1 to 9 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Pasadena and San Francisco.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Pasadena and San Francisco.

  1. 1

    Start on East Holly Street

    22 m · 5 sec · East Holly Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North Garfield Avenue

    658 ft · 26 sec · North Garfield Avenue

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right onto East Colorado Boulevard

    1.6 km · 2 min · East Colorado Boulevard

  4. 4

    Take the ramp straight toward CA 134 West: Ventura

    1407 ft · 34 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Ventura Freeway

    5 mi · 6 min · Ventura Freeway

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on Ventura Freeway

    1.1 mi · 1 min · Ventura Freeway

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on Ventura Freeway

    2776 ft · 36 sec · Ventura Freeway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 5: Golden State Freeway, Los Angeles, Sacramento

    1862 ft · 24 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on I 5 North, CA 134 West: Golden State Freeway, Sacramento, Ventura Freeway, Ventura, Zoo Drive

    98 m · 4 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 5 North: Golden State Freeway, Sacramento

    2550 ft · 33 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight right onto Golden State Freeway

    14.4 mi · 17 min · Golden State Freeway

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    2.2 mi · 3 min · Golden State Freeway

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck

    1.5 mi · 2 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight left

    36.1 mi · 42 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    22.3 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway

    225.6 mi · 4 hr 2 min · Westside Freeway

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway

    15.9 mi · 17 min · William Elton Brown Freeway

  18. 18

    Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway

    1.1 mi · 1 min · William Elton Brown Freeway

  19. 19

    Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

    18 mi · 21 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

  20. 20

    Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

    11.6 mi · 13 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

  21. 21

    Keep slight right to continue on MacArthur Freeway

    8.3 mi · 10 min · MacArthur Freeway

  22. 22

    Keep slight left to continue on MacArthur Freeway

    7.2 mi · 8 min · MacArthur Freeway

  23. 23

    Take the exit slight left toward I 80 West: San Francisco

    1.5 km · 1 min

  24. 24

    Merge slight right onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    1015 ft · 17 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  25. 25

    Turn slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    1959 ft · 33 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  26. 26

    Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    5.5 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  27. 27

    Continue on Route 80

    1438 ft · 24 sec · Route 80

  28. 28

    Continue on Route 80

    1.2 km · 1 min · Route 80

  29. 29

    Continue on Route 80

    1893 ft · 32 sec · Route 80

  30. 30

    Keep slight right to continue on US 101 North: Golden Gate Bridge

    1919 ft · 39 sec

  31. 31

    Merge slight right onto Central Freeway

    1462 ft · 25 sec · Central Freeway

  32. 32

    Continue on Octavia Boulevard

    2490 ft · 42 sec · Octavia Boulevard

  33. 33

    Turn right onto Market Street

    629 ft · 32 sec · Market Street

  34. 34

    Keep slight right to continue on Market Street

    961 ft · 35 sec · Market Street

  35. 35

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Market Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Pasadena and San Francisco.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
35 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
5 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Westside Freeway
226 mi · 59%
Golden State Freeway
38.9 mi · 10%
I 5 Truck North
37.7 mi · 10%
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
29.6 mi · 8%
William Elton Brown Freeway
17 mi · 4%
MacArthur Freeway
15.5 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Westside Freeway

Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway

226 mi · 04h 02m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
05h 59m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
12h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+36.9 mi
346.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Huron
02h 59m from Pasadena
Leave By
5:00 AM PDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Pasadena and Patchy Fog then Sunny near San Francisco.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Pasadena to San Francisco?

The road trip is about 383.2 miles (616.7 km) and usually takes 05h 59m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Huron is a useful midpoint, sitting about 191.4 miles from Pasadena and 191.7 miles from San Francisco.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 346.3 miles (557.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 36.9 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 5:00 AM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $78.00 one way or $155.99 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 120.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Pasadena and Patchy Fog then Sunny near San Francisco.

Stop Ideas Near Huron

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Huron, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Huron.

BUS

Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California

26 mi away
25th Ave and Highway 198
BUS

Kettleman City, California

28 mi away
3300 Hubert Way
BUS

Lemoore, California

29 mi away
300 E Street
RAIL

Hanford station

43 mi away
200 Santa Fe Avenue #A

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Pasadena and San Francisco. Straight-line distance: 346.27 mi (557.27 km).

Pasadena

#1 Pasadena

The second most populous city in Los Angeles County, California.

Population141,045
Coordinates34.1477800, -118.1445200
Altitude263
CountryUnited States
San Francisco

#2 San Francisco

The seventeenth most populous city in the United States and the center of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Population866,606
Coordinates37.7749300, -122.4194200
Altitude16
CountryUnited States
Start: Holly Street (-118.144519, 34.147641)
End: Market Street (-122.419433, 37.774953)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 617 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)12h 46m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)09h 34m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 39m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)06h 23m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 28m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 46m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
13.52 gal
51.18 L · about $78.00
Round trip
$155.99
27.04 gal · 102.36 L
Estimated CO2
120.2 kg one way
Round trip: 240.3 kg / 530 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $78.00 $155.99
Mid-grade $6.07 $82.01 $164.02
Premium $6.24 $84.41 $168.81
Diesel $7.57 $102.31 $204.61

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in California · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Pasadena and San Francisco. The current time is 00:54:15.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.